I was lucky enough to watch this on Halloween night at Birmingham Town Hall with Donald MacKenzie playing the organ throughout, and it has to be one of my all time favourite cinema experiences.
The Phantom of the Opera is a beautiful ode to a bygone era and is a truly captivating film despite its simple premise. A large portion of its allure is derived from its sheer spectacle and gradeur, but its unusual atmosphere and iconic performances secure its…
"In 24 hours, Simon could be lost to us forever...."
Much like its occultism contemporaries, The Devil Rides Out isn't without its goofy elements. Nonetheless, it secures its place as one of the best films spawned during the satanic panic era of the 60s/70s. Hammer deliberately avoided depicting themes of occultism and Satanism in their earlier filmography, mostly due to fears of backlash from the church and British censors. In many ways, The Devil Rides Out is a daring departure…
Interesting premise, bland execution and just generally messy. I spent the vast majority of the runtime fighting the urge to mindlessly scour the internet on my phone. That's how I know I'm the target audience.
The ASMR scene was the most compelling.
I haven't seen The Green Mile more than a handful of times and haven't revisited it in many years, but I still remembered every plot point with absolute clarity. That's the sign of a powerful piece of film making.
The Green Mile's greatest strength is humanising characters who are usually seen as faceless monsters by the wider public and cautions us to reserve our condemnation of others. John's character highlights the devastating result of capital punishment for those wrongfully sentenced,…
"This is Siouxsie, the banshee."
As Above So Below is definitely one of the strongest found footage horrors I've seen. Typically, I don't gravitate towards the subgenre, as so many directors use it as a cop out to be downright lazy (I'm looking at you The Houses October Built). Also, shaky cam has a tendency to drive me crazy.
Comparisons to The Descent are inevitable, but as far as I'm concerned As Above So Below establishes its own distinct narrative.…
For obvious reasons, The Human Centipede is a polarising film. However, I feel like people are way too quick to condemn it. Many people denounce it without even watching it. I've been a fan of The Human Centipede for years now and have watched it multiple times. Therefore, I want to attempt to dispel some of the taboo surrounding this film by presenting a case for it.
What initially attracts people to this film, or conversely repels people, is its…
